Van Horssen Group

Van Horssen Group was launched early in 2005 and introduced new ways of experiencing and enjoying the latest automobiles from the world’s leading manufacturers. From our inception, we have been dedicated to being true to the enthusiast in the best traditions of automotive culture. For us, this means that access to cars is only a starting point.

Ultimately, this dedication to the enthusiast in all of us, leads to providing a rich menu of experiences for our members to immerse themselves in and enjoy. We have already been rewarded many times over by the smiles on our members’ faces from our events, tours and driving programs. We are living in a time when lifestyles are demanding and choices seemingly unlimited. Ultimately, we want our members to have easy access to wonderful cars and automotive experiences wherever they may find themselves and whenever they have time.

As our membership has grown, we have been asked to provide services and products that complement our members’ automotive interests and are working to develop our capabilities in these areas.

In our short history, we have already established a position of leadership and innovation. From offering early access to special cars like the Vanquish S and 575M GTC in 2005 through events like our supercar track days and tours, we have offered experiences never before available. Mercedes-Benz selected us as a host for the press launch of its new S-class and we partnered with Rolls-Royce Motor Cars and Fisker Coachbuild to showcase their new cars. We have been pleased to sponsor and help support events such as the Copperstate 1000, one of America’s premier vintage rallies, as well as Concorso Arizona with the Desert Region of the Ferrari Club of America.

Our leadership has been recognized in the coverage that we have received in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Robb Report, The Economist, Fortune, Business Week, AutoWeek, Private Clubs and others. Even the British motoring TV press has taken note by featuring us on Fifth Gear.

Finally, as we pioneer this new segment of the automotive industry, we are committed to providing our members with true value in the pursuit of their automotive passions. We consider ourselves to be in partnership with our members. As such, we have an obligation to provide the most value that we can that is consistent with sound business practices. This respect that we have for our members along with our commitment to consistent, quality service will remain cornerstones for us as we grow and expand throughout the country and internationally.

We welcome your interest in a new way of enjoying cars and enriching your life. We invite you to membership in Van Horssen Group.

Sincerely,

Ronald D. Van Horssen
Chairman and C.E.O.

About The Founders

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Ronald D. Van Horssen
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Mr. Van Horssen is a nationally-recognized entrepreneur who has established a number of companies and has successfully led the pioneering of new concepts. Since 1992, he has been the chairman and managing member of The Cottonwood Group, LLC, a venture development firm that he founded. In 1983, Mr. Van Horssen co-founded Mobile Technology Inc. (MTI) and was president and chief executive officer from its inception until 1992. MTI pioneered mobile MRI services and became a leader in both diagnostic and treatment services throughout the country earning recognition as a Malcolm Baldridge finalist for its high standards in customer service and satisfaction. MTI was on the Inc. 500 for four consecutive years. In 1989, he was named an Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. magazine and Arthur Young (predecessor of Ernst & Young).

Mr. Van Horssen was also founder and chairman of eWorldSystems (1999), which developed a discretionary exchange platform for Internet commerce. Prior to starting MTI, Mr. Van Horssen was vice president and managing officer of the Los Angeles office of Amherst Associates, a management consulting and computer services firm. Before attending business school, he was a product development engineer for the Eastman Kodak Company.

Mr. Van Horssen has served as an advisor or board member to a variety of technology and service firms, public and private. He is a charter member of the Entrepreneurship Advisory Council for the Donald T. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship at Carnegie Mellon University. Mr. Van Horssen has taught seminars and given presentations on many topics including strategic and financial planning, mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, health care finance and new venture development and financing. He has been a visiting lecturer at Arizona State University, Carnegie Mellon University, University of Southern California and U.C.L.A. Mr. Van Horssen received an M.B.A. (M.S. in industrial administration) from Carnegie Mellon University and a B.S. (honors) in chemical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology.

Allen P. Palles
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Palles’ illustrious career spans a wide range of industries with leading companies in each segment. An acknowledged expert in specialty finance and asset-based shared service businesses, he also has held senior positions in the resort/hospitality and publishing industries.
Prior to Van Horssen Group, he was an advisor to banks, commercial finance, specialty finance and manufacturing companies and has participated in the turn around or liquidation of companies with over $1 billion in assets.

Mr. Palles was a director, chief financial officer and treasurer of LINC Capital, a public company and leading lessor of healthcare equipment and a leader in rental, maintenance, and shared services. At LINC, Mr. Palles was a pioneer in the securitization of equipment leases and residual values. He was responsible for completing over $2 billion in equipment financing.
Prior to joining LINC, Mr. Palles was treasurer of The Marmon Group, Inc. where he also held positions as president of The Real Estate Funding Companies (companies responsible for ownership and executive management of a number of Hyatt Regency hotels) and served on the board of directors of McCall’s Publishing Company (the publisher of McCall’s magazine, one of the leading woman’s magazines in the nation). Prior to joining Marmon, Mr. Palles served as controller, vice president of finance and senior vice president business development for both Trailmobile Division of Pullman Incorporated and Trailmobile Finance Company.

Mr. Palles has served as chairman of the Federal Tax Advisory Panel of the Equipment Leasing Association and was a lecturer in corporate taxation in DePaul University’s Master of Science in Taxation Program. He has been a speaker and lecturer at numerous seminars on securitization of financial assets and the tax aspects of equipment leasing and finance. Mr. Palles is a certified public accountant and attorney. He was graduated from DePaul University with degrees in commerce (B.S.) and law (J.D.).